Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-12-10
THE FALLACY or ATHEISM,
Proofs of the Actual Existence
Of a Living God.
Based Upon Legal Testimony as Derived
Through circumstantiai Evidence,
and Viewed from Human
Stand Point.
Prepared Expressly for the CHRONICLE By
q. IL. Slaughter.
ARTICLE II.
CIt

In introducing evidence for the purpose OF
proving the existence OF an intelligent. living
Tod, shall not attempt the production OF
my regarded as new or startling, but only
uch as is known by intelligent and earnest
seekers for truth, 10 have been In existence
Tor many ages past and my excuse for taxing |
The time aud patience OF readers by present.
Ing such evidence as mgy have ever been |
In their possession, or easily obtained by them |
from other sources, IL the hope that some who |
have not given the subject that careful attenr |
ton which 1t certainly deserves, and whose
minds may be tlnctured more or less with
skepticism, may be induced to accept the
chain that shall attempt TO weave together
from some of the many fragments IN exist
ence, and regardless OF past or present shear
say" give the matter such serious eonsidera-
ton as will cause them to MAKE ut least q
little personal investigation for themselves.
This proof or evidence must necessarily be
presented from human standpoint, and 10
some extent governed by usages as practiced
In common law courts OF public justice under
human control, for 1t Is from this stand point
alone that mortality is permitted III the least
degree to view or understand the greatest or
most common mysteries of Immortality.
1t is true there are persons termed spiritual
lists who profess knowledge of certain
spiritual or divine manifestations, which
they say have at times occurred, and In some
Instances seen directly by themselves. This
class of evidence II true, as sometimes stated,
might be regarded as supernatural, and pos
SD y to some extent bordering on the divine,
but as / have no personal knowledge Of its
existence shall not here attempt to use IL.
The three grades of evidence in common use.
and most generally understood by the great
masses OF human kind may be termed "pos-
sitive," 'circumsiantial,p and "hearsay."
Positive evidence" is that produced
through the testimony of persons having a
personal knowledge, as eye witnesses or
otherwise of certain facts sought to be proven.
"Circumstantial evidence" is produced thu o.
a combination of facts and circumstances, SO
linked together as TO impress upon our minds
the truth of that which is intended to be
proven. "aearsay evidence" is that derived
from the expression on words of Others, or
from the reading OF books, papers, manu-
scripts, ETC., and from personal knowledge
of facts or circumstances.
Whilst the first named $50 termed positive
evidence) is usually regarded as the most re-
liable in trials before our courts of justice,
aud while the second named (clrcumstantial
evldence) may in many instances be regarded
as equally relieble, the third (nearsay) is
usually regarded as illegal, and not generally
admitted as lawful testimony in important
cases before any court OF justice, unless based
upon proofs of a positive" or "circumstan-
tial'' nature. And yet, Notwithstanding the
fact that hearsay or second -hand evidence is
excluded from the human law courts OF JUS
tice as illegal and unworthy, 1t is, 1 regret to
say, the only kind that millions of human
beings, including church members and Others
of our Intelligent Christian civilization. are
depending upon for their knowledge as re-
CARDS the existence OF an intelligent living
God, the Immortality of their souls, or other
matters pertaining to future life; because
i suppose, they do not care to trouble them.
selves with O personal investigation, have
thus named in detail the several classes Of
evidence in common use by human kind
be C fuse it is through this channel alone thai
we are permitted to present intelligent proc
from human stand point of the positive
existence of q Supreme Being or living God
And whilst we must depend mainly upor
circumstantial evidence to make this proof
IL Is interviewer and linked together so per
iectly in all particulars that nothing shoult
be needed to increase in the least manner
our most positive knowledge of His exist
ence
AS have before intimated, 1t is my inten
ton to present such evidence as may b,
fal ~,
nished manner. Throughout the extent o
the earth, within all lands occupied by tn.
human race, there are more or less articles o
various kinds regarded by us as the result o
mans labor and ingenuity. shall in no wis,
attempt 10 innumerate the different kindl
included in this vast array of articles, bu
will say that they include every formation o
art rom the smallest 10 the greatest of man.
productions. Whether they are for good o.
harm, for necessary use, ornament, or pleas
ure, they were all created or formed through
some process or powers understood or con
trulled by their creator or malxer-nlan.
4 Therefore, there is not single kind of thi
vast array of productions known TO be ii
general use, 1t matters not how insignifican
1t may be, that was not made or created b,
'hO NV "a "Aii VI SpiiN NV hib bNAHS Va IiJl'
or less intelligenee. Take Ii you will some o
the smallest of these productions. a paper o
pins, a case of needles, a gross of buttons, O
Others of the smallest value, and show then
to an Atheist, telling him that they wer,
neither made, formed or created by any &C
or will Of intelligence, or for any espt ella
purpose, but simply came into existence b,
chance or Incident, and he will as an intelli
gent being teny the assertion. Although h,
did not ee them made, and does not know
how, where, or by whom made, he will read
lily confess to you that they were Geliberatel,
made for purpose, under the control o
through the will OF some being or power o
more OF less intelligence, and that they coul,
not have existed without maker or creator
Then as regards the products or creations o
man. all persons, whether believers or non
j believers, agree First THAT they are many
and various, Second-That each IN o
them possessed maker or creator. Ant
third-That none OF them could have existed
only through the act or will OF some being o
more or less power or intelligence. Again, /
you desire, we will cast our minds eye owe
the entire extent OF the earth, and in so doini
see very great variety OF productions tina
man s'dId notr creaie. form. or IN any man